Final chapter so some final words.

First of all, I'd like to dedicate this story to the author of the original Agents of Metal series, L. Öörni.

Next, a huuuge thanks to ArmageddonClan for your support, advice on everything from guitars to explosives, and of course for being an FF writing buddy! Vielen Dank!

Thank you for the all the bands/artists whose songs I've used for inspiration and for the lyrics I have borrowed!

Finally, a massive thank you to You, J. Especially for beta reading and battle strategies.
Without you this wouldn't have been possible.

Freedom, metal and might!

-AgentUrsa

Background music suggestion: Nargaroth: Spectral Visions of Mental Warfare

Chapter 25: Dawn Over a New World

Across the highest mountains and through the endless seas
Our journey ever onwards fight until we all be free
Through the darkness shining the never ending light
On through the days of glory rise towards the fight

And one day we will find a way toward this distant golden age
The cries of war will sound the day
We stand before the dawn of a new world

- Dragonforce: Dawn Over a New World

...

Six Months Later

Ian couldn't believe they were back at the Hades Club. There was a good atmosphere that night and it was quite crowded. But besides being excited there was also feeling of sadness when he thought of René and Lucas. But then he remembered something Jo had said to him. He couldn't quite remember when she had said it though. About this being a war he had not chosen - that he had only chosen not to run away from it. It felt so true.

It had been a war. And it was now over.

Finally they got on stage. Blowfish looked fierce as she walked behind the microphone. She was wearing black leather and a top that had shredded sleeves, a black glove and a leather wrist band. Her hair had already grown and she had dyed it to her signature red. Mitsuko took her place with the bass.

Jo looked at Ian for a second. He had the shiny black new BC Rich Warlock he had bought not long ago. Jo couldn't help thinking how good he looked with it. She herself was very satisfied with her red ESP now. She had done some soldering the previous week and the mics were now perfect. The sound wasn't muddy nor too bright, but just right.

Ian glanced at Jo who was looking at him. From now she would be his partner in battles fought with guitars. He had gladly given up the bass to Mitsuko. Actually, they had had no idea she was so good playing it. Ian could see Jo smiled briefly and her smile made him feel he was in desperate need of dissociation - but he had decided he wouldn't do it anymore. Instead, he decided he would take the raw emotion and channel it into his playing.

"We are...the Agents of Metal."

Erik counted the song in.

...

It had gone better then well and the crowd had been extremely receptive. It was time for the last song of their set. Blowfish looked at her bandmates - Ian, Jo, Erik and Mitsuko. Then she looked at the crowd.

"I dedicate our last song to our fallen comrades," she said with an extremely low voice.

The song was called "The Pyre".

And it was the first one Ian and Jo had written together, one evening in Kyoto.

...

After the gig they all sat down to watch the following act still enjoying the adrenaline rush.
"Get ready...for an anaphylactic shock!" the singer screamed.
Truly, they were actually followed by the thrash band 'Shark attack'. Ian thought he always seemed to run into that band wherever he went.
He settled for one beer but soon the others were enjoying the well deserved second round.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay? We could go to a hotel," Jo asked.
"I can drive. It's okay...You know I kind of wanted to go home," he said.

Mitsuko suddenly came to them through the crowd looking quite ecstatic.
"Hey! You'll never guess whom I found!"
The one standing behind her was definitely Agent Adler but it took a moment for the others to recognize him. He looked so different in his worn Iron Maiden shirt and jeans. They all greeted him most warmly.
"I came straight from the airport, just in time," he smiled.

...

Ian and Jo were now driving back. Erik and Gwen had decided to stay in the city for a few days and had asked them to stay too but Ian had insisted he wanted to return to Rock Falls. Mitsuko on the other hand had promised to show Agent Adler the local sights the following day so she wasn't returning home either.

Ian was driving and it was around 2 AM. The landscape was dark, it was almost a full moon. He had actually made compilation CD for their drive back home. The Ford Fiesta's AUX system wasn't much but it still had a CD player. The last song was playing now. It was Nargaroth's "Spectral Visions of Mental Warfare". Ian thought it wasn't as true as their earlier material but the song had become important to him. Somehow it sounded like emerging from a dark tunnel into light. He didn't even mind that the name and lyrics mentioned things like mental warfare, chaos and serpents and cosmic cores. He thought this had to be a good sign - he was recovering.

They listened in silence. The song reached the halfway point where the kick drum had a throbbing mid-tempo beat. Ian felt it very much matched what his heartbeat felt that moment. He pulled the car to the side of the quiet road.
"What is it? Are you okay?" Jo asked worried.
Ian looked at her. She still looked slightly flushed. He had a flashback of that journey in the van after their first gig together when he had hugged her.
"There is something I wanted to give you."
"What is it?"
He dug his jeans pocket and placed the object in Jo's hand. There was a moment of silence as she took in what it was.
"Too much?" Ian's voice was slightly strained because he now noticed Jo looked confused. Clearly moved but confused.
"I didn't know things like this meant something to you."
"It didn't. You're the exception."
Jo was looking at the object thoughtfully. To his relief Ian noticed there was a smile forming on her lips.
She finally looked at him and the look in her eyes conveyed much more than any words ever could have. Ian allowed his eyes to become teary. Jo looked at him for a long time, and then put her arms around him, holding him tight.
"I love you, Ian Smith, and I don't say that often enough."

The ring had angel wings embedded in it.

...

They were all now standing outside the courthouse. Jo was wearing a denim vest and jeans, Ian black jeans and a t-shirt. Erik and Gwen had also been there.
"So what are you planning to do now?" Erik asked.
Both Jo and Ian grinned.
"We're flying to Finland and renting a Ka," Jo said smiling.
"And we'll drive to the Arctic Ocean."
Erik shook his head and chuckled.
"I should have known. That car...It's disgusting."
Blowfish chuckled.
"Enjoy," she said.
"But first, we're gonna stop at San Francisco. Stanford, actually," Jo said.
They all knew it was about Ian meeting his mother. She had replied to his message.
"Good luck," Blowfish said.
"We should get going now," Ian said taking hold of Jo's hand.

Suddenly, Ian could hear Erik's voice from the distance.
"Remember, when you get back we'll build that cabin! With our bare hands!"

Somehow he anticipated they had an interesting autumn ahead of them.

...

Ian couldn't help thinking the trip was so different than their first Ka trip had been. Jo didn't have to recollect her memory and there were simply no doubts, no uncertainty.

They were lying on the grass by a river. It was warm and the air was so fresh. It was night time but the nights up in the north were like beautiful everlasting sunsets. The black Ka was parked close to them.
Jo opened her eyes and looked at the mountains in the distance. She looked dreamy.
"Ian...Do you think that when all this is over we'll go somewhere...To some strange lands?"
Ian turned to look at her.
"I have a feeling we will," he answered.
Jo looked at him, now smiling, and leaned to give him a kiss.

It was the best possible ending.